Ex-Ole Miss baseball assistant coach caught in underage sex sting

ORLANDO, Fla. – The head baseball coach at St. Petersburg College has been arrested in Orlando as part of an underage sex sting.

Robert Francis, a former Ole Miss assistant coach, was charged Wednesday with felony obscene communication and transmitting harmful material to minors.

Orange County Sheriff’s officials say the 31-year-old Francis began instant messaging an undercover detective posing as a 14-year-old girl in an online chat room. During the conversation he posted a nude photo of himself.

Detectives say Francis and the undercover detective made arrangements to meet up in Orlando for sex, and Francis was arrested when he showed up at a designated spot. Detectives say he had condoms and a bottle of wine in his car.

Francis had an unlisted number for his Oldsmar address and he couldn’t be reached for comment.